SANFORD — Mayor Tom Cote regarded the wall-to-wall crowd at the new Mill 67 restaurant on Friday, March 21, and stated, “This is synergy.”

Synergy, indeed. A cross-section of the city’s officials, businesspeople, educators, volunteers and leaders of various organizations all turned out for the official launch party of “Synergize Sanford” that afternoon. The party site is a new one in Sanford — Mill 67 opened in the recently renovated Sanford Mill at 61 Washington Street on St. Patrick’s Day.

“Synergize Sanford” is an effort to “spark ideas, accelerate business opportunities and provide a platform for our young professionals to network and showcase their talents,” according to Mayor Tom Cote, who created the initiative. The group, which started meeting informally earlier this year, is a collaboration between the City of Sanford, the Sanford-Springvale Chamber of Commerce, the Sanford School Department, the Sanford Regional Economic Growth Council and local business leaders.

Don Gooding, the executive director of the Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development, served as the event’s guest speaker. A dynamic speaker, Gooding climbed onto a chair and sang a song to capture the attention of the hundreds in the room whose socializing had created a loud buzz in the room. His strategy worked.

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Jim Nimon, the executive director of the Sanford Regional Economi growth Council, speaks during the “Synergize Sanford” launch party on Friday, March 21. (courtesy photo by Kayleigh Verrell-Peters)

“Tonight is all about revival,” Gooding told the crowd, referring to the city’s ongoing efforts to reinvent itself as a commercial, cultural and residential hub. “What you’re doing is exactly what you should be doing.”

Gooding spoke of innovation, noting that with the right effort and determination, “anybody can be an entrepreneur.” He provided examples of innovation taking place all throughout Maine — a 12-year-old Orono girl, he said, even showed such spirit when she invented a special sock to help her play sports with better comfort — and applauded local efforts to connect people together.

“Go make things happen!” he told the crowd.

James Nimon, the executive director of the Sanford Regional Economic Growth Council, followed the mayor’s remarks early into the event, encouraging those in the room to join “Synergize Sanford.”

“This could be a movement for the benefit of Sanford, Maine, so stay involved,” he said.

Reegan Brown, of Southern Maine Health Care, is a member of “Synergize Sanford” and told the crowd that to date the initiative has been in an exploring mode.

“We need you to help,” she told everyone in the room. “We are entering the creative phase.”

Grant writer Lee Burnett took an opportunity to discuss the Business Assistance Program that the City of Sanford is seeking to establish. The program would apply to existing local businesses with five or fewer employees.

“If you’re considering an expansion (of your business), the city might be able to help you,” Burnett said.

The city is applying for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to establish the program. Sanford could receive up to $150,000 in CDBG funds to set up the program if local small business owners express an interest in it. The earliest date funds would be available to successful applicants will be July 1.

In addition to having five or fewer employees, a business owner must also meet certain income guidelines or be able to create a single job, according to Burnett.

To apply, or to get more information, business owners can visit online at www.sanfordmaine.org or call Burnett at 608-4171.

At the start of Friday’s party, attendees donated $5 to the initiative and dropped their business cards into a bowl to take a chance to win such prizes as flowers, car washes and gift certificates and to help “Synergize Sanford” build up a network of contacts.

“If you want a stronger Sanford, this is the place to be,” Cote told the crowd at the start of the party. “You’re in the right place tonight.”

“Synergize Sanford” will hold a “think tank” meeting at Sanford High School on Thursday, April 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. The business community and the public are invited.